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NIN-SIM linkage: NATCOMS pleads for 2-week extension
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has appealed to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for extension of the NIN-SIM Linkage deadline from Sept. 14 to Sept. 30.
The National President, NATCOMS, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, said in an interview with the Newsmen, yesterday, that it desired an extension due to the challenges of the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC) portal.
The Tide source reports that the NCC had set a deadline of Sept. 14, 2024, for all mobile users to link their SIMs to their National Identification Number (NIN).
The NCC emphasised the importance of the NIN-SIM linkage for improving digital security and reducing fraud and cybercrime.
Ogunbanjo said it needed the two-week extension for the NIMC to increase the capacity of its portal, adding that telecoms operators at the customer centres usually struggled to upload on the NIMC portal.
He said that difficulty to upload on the NIMC portal had frustrated the process and caused delay.
“As I visited the customer centres of Airtel and MTN, I witnessed firsthand the struggles they faced in uploading data to NIMC portal.
“The congestion was palpable, and the slow pace of uploads was frustrating.
“It was clear that the NIMC portal lacked the capacity to handle the surge in uploads, causing undue stress for telecom operators and their subscribers.
“I am appealing to the NCC to grant an extension of the deadline to Sept. 30, to allow more time for NIMC to expand its portal capacity.
Ogunbanjo said that this would alleviate the current difficulties, and ensure a smoother experience for all stakeholders.
In a The Tide source check at some customer centres, a food vendor, Mrs Zainab Olajide, said that though the process of linking and unbarring her SIM was seamless, the operators of the centre, however, demanded for N1,000 before attending to her.
Olajide said that failure to pay the money meant that the customer would not be attended to, adding that the agents at the centre took advantage of the situation due to the crowd.
She said that though she got to the centre at 10 a.m., her number was 282, pleading that an extension of the deadline would enable more people get back online.
Also, a Consultant, Mr Clement Umeadi, also decried the extortion that took place at his customer centre at Alagbado.
Umeadi said that the most annoying for him was paying N2000 to unblock his two barred lines.
He stressed that the NIN-SIM linkage should be a continuous process with no set deadline, saying that such deadlines encouraged unwholesome practices.
Also, at a customer centre in Opebi, an Accountant, Josh Manuel, said the registration process was seamless, adding that despite the crowd, there was orderliness and effective management.
He said that the agents were professional in handling the process and no money was demanded.
“I was forced to appreciate the staff I met, especially, the security for their professionalism in handling the crowd,’’ he said.
A staff of the customer centre, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that the turnover of subscribers to adhere to the deadline was impressive.
She said that, prior to the present extension, subscribers were in the habit of rushing at the last minute, but that was not the case at the centre.
A Teacher, Mrs Olushola Oke, lamented the slow pace of uploads at a customer centre in Ogba.
Oke said that the crowd at the centre was as a result of the slow pace of work, which was frustrating.
According to her, it was after her third early morning visit to the centre that her line was unbarred.
She, however, called for an extension of the exercise to enable more people have their lines unbarred, especially those who had faced the similar experience of slow pace of work.
An agent at the customer centre, Ogba, Mr Quadri Adegoke, told The Tide source that verification on the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC) was not encouraging.
Adegoke said it had slowed the pace of work and made the whole process frustrating.
He said that it was hard to determine whether the slow uploads was as a result of the ongoing construction work in the area that might have tampered with the network or the traffic on NIMC’s website.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
